Whether you’re trying to launch your new startup or you want to promote an existing business
and grow your sales, PR services are undoubtedly a great way to reach out to new customers,
gain visibility in the media, and increase overall brand awareness.
But what are PR services, and how do you know which PR firm is right for you? What services
can they offer that can help your company grow? How much will this all cost? And how do you
even begin the process of hiring one? We will talk about all this and more below.
What Is PR?
PR stands for public relations, and it’s the art of establishing relationships with people in the
media to meet and further your business objectives. It is basically the strategic practice of
managing the spread of information between an individual or an organization and the public.
The aim of public relations is to influence how people think, feel, and behave towards a
company or individual. It can be as simple as getting your company’s name in front of as many
people as possible through media coverage, or it can be more complicated, like managing an
event with potential investors in attendance.
Public relations services can be an important part of a business strategy as you navigate your
way toward success. Because in the end, it’s not just about the product you’re selling or the
customers you have, but also about how well-known and respected your company becomes
within your industry and among consumers in general.
Why Do You Need PR?
So, do you really need a PR strategy?
When executed properly, a good PR strategy can help you get your startup off the ground or
your business to greater heights by raising awareness, generating interest, and creating a
positive reputation. And in today's competitive marketplace, it's more important than ever to
have a strong public image.
PR can help you build relationships with key influencers, media outlets, and customers.
Additionally, PR can help you manage crisis situations and protect your brand's reputation.
Good PR should increase your exposure without any negative impact on your company.
What Are the Main Types of PR Services?
There are two main types of PR services: organic (or grassroots) and paid (or advertorial).
Organic publicity is the act of spreading information about something or someone through one's
network, while paid publicity is when someone pays for coverage in print, broadcast or online
media.
Paid advertising can be an effective form of PR because it allows you to target specific
audiences with precise messages tailored to them. The downside is that paid advertising can
cost more than other forms of publicity and isn’t always guaranteed to bring results.
It’s important not only to pick the right type of advertising campaign but also to choose the right
platform as well. For example, Google Adwords is often used by startups looking for leads in
their industry, whereas Facebook Ads may be better if you're looking for new customers outside
your industry niche.
What Are the Unique Benefits of PR Services?
As mentioned above, each type of PR service has its own unique benefits. Here are a few of the
most popular:
1. Media Relations
Getting your startup featured in the news is a great way to get exposure and build credibility. A
good PR firm can help you get media coverage in both traditional and online outlets.
2. Attract Investors through Press Releases
Sending out press releases is a tried-and-true method of getting the word out about your
startup. A well-written press release can generate media attention and help you attract
investors.
3. Social Media Presence
With over 2 billion active users, social media is a powerful tool for promoting your startup or
brand. It's also easy to use and inexpensive. However, you should think carefully about which
social networks are best suited for your business. But no matter what, you should establish a
presence on all major platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn etc.
When crafting posts for social media, always be sure to include a call-to-action so that people
will take some sort of action after reading your post.
Do You Need a Public Relations Manager?
A public relations manager is someone who helps a company or organization communicate with
the public. They are responsible for creating and maintaining a positive image for you as the
client.
This person can be very helpful to a startup business by creating awareness for the company
and its products or services. This individual can also help build relationships with customers,
media, and other stakeholders.
If you are thinking about hiring a Public Relations Manager, here are some things to keep in
mind:
- What are your goals?
- What is your budget?
- Do you have the resources to support a Public Relations Manager?
- What is your timeline?
- Is your company ready for media attention?
- Do you have a crisis communications plan?
The Important Roles That PR Managers Play
PR managers play a critical role in a company’s marketing and brand awareness campaigns.
We’ll go over the major tasks of PR managers below:
Strategic Communications
Every action performed by PR managers falls under this category. This means all the PR efforts
are designed to help startups and companies achieve their goals and objectives.
Media Relations
To ensure the messages are relayed to the right audience, a strong relationship with the media
should be established. In this aspect, PR professionals may send PRs and schedule interviews
with media outlets.
Community Relations
Sure, the media may play an essential role in PR services. However, to be more effective, PR
professionals may have to communicate and engage directly with the community. And in such a
case, good listening skills and good event organization skills are of the essence.
Crisis Communications
No, this isn't actually what the name suggests. This aspect is when PR professionals take
necessary actions before a crisis occurs. It could mean creating a plan for crisis management.
Internal Communications
This is slowly becoming a crucial area of focus in PR. Employees can either be the biggest fan
or harshest critics of a company. So, keeping them satisfied and hearing them out are other
important tasks of PR managers.
What Should You Consider When Hiring a PR Agency?
Assuming you have made up your mind and decided you need a PR manager, you are set to
face another decision-making stage: which PR agency to hire.
To help you decide, you need to consider first what your budget is for PR services. Then you
need to identify your goals and objectives for working with a PR agency. Once you have a clear
understanding of your goals, you can begin researching agencies that specialize in serving
startups.
When evaluating agencies, be sure to look at their client list, case studies, and press coverage.
Finally, schedule a consultation with the agency to get a feel for their team and whether or not
they would be a good fit for your startup.
Do You Need an In-House Team for Your Business?
Considering the role that PR managers play, many startups and established businesses
consider hiring an in-house PR team. But is it really beneficial for you?
Same as having an internal IT support team that will fix your PC problems like when your
display resolution greyed out, An in-house team can be beneficial for a number of reasons.
They can help with day-to-day tasks, keeping the business organized, and can provide an extra
layer of support when needed. Additionally, an in-house team can help with long-term projects
and goals, providing advice and guidance along the way.
However, there are also a few downsides to having an in-house team. For one, it can be
expensive to maintain an in-house team, especially if your business is small or just starting out.
Also, you may not have the space or resources to accommodate an in-house team.
If you are unsure whether or not an in-house team is right for your business, consider the
advantages of outsourcing PR services before making a decision.
PR Services: How They Can Help Your Business Grow
Public relations or PR can be an invaluable asset to any business, as it can help you establish
your name and brand, reach and attract new potential customers, and increase your profits as
well as the value of your company over time.
However, if you’re not sure how PR services work or how they can help your business grow,
here are the main benefits of outsourcing PR services:
1. You can focus on your core business: When you outsource your PR, you can focus
on your core business and leave the PR to the professionals. This way, you can avoid
any costly mistakes that could jeopardize your business.
2. You’ll save time and money: A good PR firm will have the relationships and know-how
to get your story told efficiently and effectively. This can save you a lot of time and
money that would be spent on trial and error.
3. You’ll get an objective perspective: It can be difficult to be objective about your own
business. A PR firm will be able to provide an outside perspective and help you develop
messaging that resonates with your target audience.
4. You can have effective content marketing strategies: One important way a PR firm
can help a startup stand out is by creating content marketing strategies that will draw
attention to their product or service while educating potential customers on why they
should buy it too.
What Are the Main Reasons Why Companies Outsource Their PR Needs?
When you outsource your PR needs, you can tap into a team of experts who are up-to-date on
the latest trends and best practices. This can save you time and money while helping you to
achieve better results.
Moreover, a professional PR agency can provide objectivity and fresh perspectives to help you
take your business to the next level.
Here are some of the main reasons why companies outsource their marketing:
- A company may want to stay competitive in their industry, or they may want to explore
new markets that they have not yet explored. - Another reason is that it is difficult for companies to keep up with all of the changes that
happen in social media, SEO, link building strategies, content writing, etc., due to how quickly these industries
change with the times. - Companies might also need more manpower than they currently have available within
their own staff or lack certain skillsets for current tasks at hand. - Lastly, outsourcing could be used as a way for a company to test strategies before
investing too much in them by implementing them internally first and then seeing what
happens from there before committing too much financial resources or risk exposure.
What Is Included in an Outsourced Public Relations Package?
Many small businesses don't have the internal resources to handle all aspects of their public
relations. When you outsource your PR, you can expect the agency to provide a comprehensive package that usually includes media relations, crisis communications, brand management, and
more.
For example, if there is an issue with your product, they will work with you to create an
appropriate response and timeline for release to protect your company's reputation. If a
journalist requests information about your company for an upcoming story, they will help
determine how much information should be shared.
Which Companies and Industries Can Benefit from Outsourcing PR?
Almost any company can benefit from outsourcing their PR, but it is especially helpful for small
businesses and startups. This is because they often don’t have the in-house resources to
dedicate to a comprehensive PR strategy. Additionally, they may not have the brand recognition
that would make it easy to get media coverage.
With the help of a PR firm, these companies can get the exposure they need to grow. The most
common approach for PR firms is pitching stories to journalists about the client’s brand or
products.
In some cases, this means approaching reporters who are relevant to the client’s industry or
background and giving them information about how an event or announcement will affect them.
It might also involve following up with reporters after an event has happened to give them more
background or insights into what happened.
Where Can You Find Reliable Outsourcing Firms?
PR agencies offer a wide variety of services to help businesses grow, including media relations,
content marketing, and event planning. But with so many agencies out there, it can be tough to
know where to start.
Pearl Lemon PR is just one of the reputable PR agencies out there. Their team is comprised of
professionals and experts in different fields, so you can trust the level of service and
professionalism they provide.
Final Thoughts
PR services are vital to all startups because they help get your business noticed by the media,
prospective customers, and industry leaders, among others. For this reason, many
entrepreneurs turn to PR companies to do the legwork, leaving them free to focus on other
aspects of their business.
However, not all PR firms are created equal, and choosing the right one for your startup can
make all the difference in its success or failure. This ultimate guide to PR services should help
you make an informed decision when picking one.
